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| Indiappam and Pol Sambol (Stringhoppers and Coconut Sambol) |
On Friday, I had a follow up appointment with the oral surgeon to see how my mouth was healing from the extraction of the molar tooth that had broken off below the gum line, which caused my partial denture to come off as the tooth had been anchoring it. My appointment was at 1:00 p.m. and my daughter (who had taken time off from work to accompany me, again) and I left the house at 12:15 p.m. just in case there was traffic on the way.
But, traffic was light and we were at the dental office early. I didn't expect to be called in before my appointed time, but, they took me in right away. The oral surgeon appologized about the delay in processing the mouthwash, checked everything, and said my gums were healing nicely. I was to continue to use the mouthwash for another week, but, unless something else needed to be done or I changed my mind and decided to get implants, after all, he didn't need to see me again! He shook my hand and wished me a good life! LOL. The dental assistant gave me a hug because I remembered her name and saw me out. There was no charge for today's visit, which was a good thing because the initial office visit, x-rays, and the actual procedure came to a good amount, especially since I was using an out of network dentist.
Since the follow up visit took less time than expected, we still had about two hours left of the time daughter took off from work and since the Sri Lankan store was not too far from the dental office, we drove to the store to pick up a few things (treats, mostly, but, also another box of my favorite tea).
We also called in an order to the Sri Lankan restaurant located a few blocks away from the restaurant. It is, actually, a tiny "hole in the wall" kind of place located in a mini-mall, run by a husband and wife and their two young daughters help out after school. But they have the best watalappan (a coconut milk and jaggary pudding) and yes, we bought one to bring home. We also picked up some prepared food, including the indiappa (stringhoppers in English) pictured above (in addition to the coconut sambol, it came with chicken curry and a hard boiled egg in coconut milk cooked with turmeric and other spices):
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| Stringhoppers, Cutrries, and Sambol |
Daughter ordered pittu which is made of rice flour (they used red rice flour in this instance) and grated coconut, and steamed (traditionally inside a hollow section of bamboo):
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| Pittu |
Unlike stringhoppers, pittu doesn't have an English name. The pittu came with coconut milk, beef curry, and lunu miris (a spicy onion and dried red chilies mixture); daughter had already served herself and started eating before I took a picture of her plate, so I took a picture of only the remaining portion of pittu that was still in the container.
In addition to the stringhoppers and pittu meals, we ordered savory pastries we call patties (which look a little like empanadas) and some rolls.
After we came home and ate, daughter went back to work and I watched some video excerpts of the funeral of Reverend Jesse Jackson.
M arrived to tend to the garden in the early evening. I had bought a few items for him at the Sri Lankan store as a small thank you gift for 33 years of tending to the garden and served him some of the patties and a drink of passion fruit nectar that I had bought.
Dinner was leftovers from our lunch and after dinner, I loaded the dishwasher and wiped down the kitchen counters.
On Friday, I am grateful for:
- The appointment with the oral surgeon went well; my gums are healing well
- A lovely visit to the Sri Lankan store
- Delicious treats and meals from the restaurant
- M's help with the garden
- Safe drives to the dental office, the store and restaurant, and back
Friday's joyful activities included a visit to one of my favorite stores and restaurants and sampling some of the delicious food we bought.
No special plans for this weekend. We'll take it easy and maybe do a little housework, laundry, etc.
How was your Friday? What are your plans for the weekend?
I had to look up stringhoppers - I'd never heard of them!
ReplyDeleteJust as I had never heard of savory duck until you mentioned it! Blogging can be quite educational at times! :)
DeleteSounds like you had a celebrations of sorts of special treats after a successful visit to the surgeon. I'm sure you're glad that procedure is behind you.
ReplyDeleteI guess we were still celebrating daughter's birthday, this whole week. :)
DeleteI'm glad your appointment went well and you were in and out fast. I haven't heard of the food you described, and I'm glad you included a picture. It sounds like it was a real treat to have some extra time to pick up delicious foods and tea.
ReplyDeleteThank you, hannah jane. I am originally from Sri Lanka and these are the foods I grew up eating. I do cook rice and curries at home, but, sometimes, it is a treat to be able to pick up food from a restaurant or a specialty store. :)
DeleteI'm so glad your appointment went well, Bless. It must be a weight off your mind.
ReplyDeleteMy weekend plans are similar to yours, but I've also got to get the weekly shop. Xx
Thank you, Jules. Yes, I was worried that my mouth wouldn't heal properly due to my various medical conditions.
DeleteI, too, still have to order and pick up groceries for the week.
Now I'm hungry for some non-Bushlady food. Your Sri Lankan dishes look and sound so delicious!
ReplyDeleteWell, I do enjoy eating Sri Lankan food that is prepared by someone else, but, my daughter stated that my chicken and beef curries are tastier than the ones from the restaurant! :D
DeleteGood news that your mouth is healing well! All the foods you got look really tasty and interesting. I wonder where there's a Sri Lankan restaurant nearest me. Maybe Minneapolis or Chicago...
ReplyDeleteThank you, Celie. I looked online and there is at least one Sri Lankan restaurant in Minneapolis and another in St. Paul. There are some in Chicago, too. I rather like the menu of the one I saw in Minneapolis. :)
DeleteI am so glad the appointment went well and everything is healing nicely. It was lovely that you had extra time to do something fun and find some good things to eat!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Sharon. Yes, it was lovely that we could take a quick trip out to the Sri Lankan store and to pick up some food from the restaurant. We've been enjoying the food we picked up. :)
DeleteI love reading about then researching all the foods you eat. How nice to have your daughter to share with!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Anne. I hope you get to try some of the foods I've described. I think you'll enjoy them. It's lovely that daughter is here to enjoy the food with me, although, she claims that my chicken and beef curries taste better! :D
DeleteIt's so lovely that you got to spend time with your daughter and have a nice meal!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Linda. I am so happy that my daughter has come home to live with me (she was in northern California for 10 years prior to coming back home last August).
DeletePleased you got the all-clear from the dentist. And I like the food photos. Perhaps I will get to try a Sri Lankan menu one of these days. (When I do, I will know my way around it - thanks to your posts!)
ReplyDeleteThank you, Lady Ella. I hope you are able to try a Sri Lankan meal. I know there are several SL restaurants in London, so, maybe you can plan to try one on a visit there. :)
DeleteThere is one quite near me, so maybe one day... But I don't really want to go alone, so it'll stay on the back burner for now. :(
DeleteMaybe you can order something to go/take away? Then, you can pick up the order and bring it home to enjoy (that's what daughter and I do because we are still not eating out at restaurants).
DeleteNot practical. It's a good 35/40 mins drive away ("quite near" compared with London, perfectly fine for an evening out) and I very much doubt it is the kind of place that does takeaway. Anyway I am not one for takeaways; would say I have them less than once a year, and only then for a specific reason eg. lack of time or nothing in the cupboard. Besides I'd still be eating alone. I'll go if a chance comes up but if not it's not a big deal.
DeleteOh, I see. I guess I am used to being able to ask for food to go at just about any restaurant/eating place, here. I do hope you get the opportunity to try out some Sri Lankan food one of these days. :)
DeleteI'm glad your dental appointment went well and your healing is progressing as it should. They gave you a very nice send off didn't they? Wishes for a good life and a hug. Can't beat that :)
ReplyDeleteAnother round of good food at your house.
It all sounds delicious.
33 years with M tending your garden is a milestone worth marking that's for sure.
Thank you, Debra. Yes, it was a very nice send off, wasn't it? :D
DeleteLots of delicious food; a bit of an indulgence, but, well worth it. :)
M is definitely a wonderful friend. He was here, today, too, and just left after watering and weeding, etc.